Conservatives fear fundraising slump amid sagging polls, infighting

A Global News analysis of fundraising data suggests Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has attended just seven major fundraisers so far in 2026.

Amid anemic poll numbers and messy public infighting, some Conservatives worry that fundraising numbers are also taking a hit as Pierre Poilievre struggles to keep his party together. The Conservatives have long maintained a fundraising advantage over the Liberal Party, while in government and on the opposition benches. That edge is a point of pride for the Conservative Party, which often cites it as proof of the party’s broad appeal, even in the face of poor national polling numbers.

But with Q2 fundraising results expected to be publicly released this month, multiple sources tell Global News that behind the scenes, there’s concern about the results. A Global News analysis of fundraising data filed to Elections Canada suggests that in the first six months of 2026, Poilievre personally attended seven party fundraisers. Over the same period in 2024, when the Conservatives were riding high in the polls, he attended 27.

“(Poilievre’s team) is worried about the fundraising right now. They’re worried about it because if it’s going as bad as it seems ... one, it’s a bad image, he’s under siege right now, and two, they need the money,” said one long-standing Conservative insider.

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